"Where is Teacher Qin Ming?" Dugu Yan suddenly remembered, "Why haven't I seen Teacher Qin either?"
Yu Tianheng replied, "Lü Buliang is a commoner student Teacher Qin Ming unilaterally recruited. Although he's a special talent, he doesn't have a special talent certificate yet. Teacher Qin is taking him to the Three Education Committee Members to apply for special talent status."
"Is that so? I hope the Three Education Committee Members kick him out," Dugu Yan said coldly. "That way, I won't have to worry about anyone competing with Lingling for her position."
Yu Tianheng shook his head. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. The Three Education Committee Members will definitely grant him special talent status after seeing Lü Buliang's Shadow Spirit."
After speaking, Yu Tianheng fell into contemplation. He had watched Lü Buliang and Oslo's battle very carefully last night. He was almost certain that Lü Buliang's Shadow Spirit could exert its maximum effect in any team.
He was also more convinced that with Lü Buliang's addition, Heaven Dou Royal Academy's first team's combat style would be completely transformed, and their combat power would become incredibly formidable.
However, Yu Tianheng's gaze drifted towards Ye Lingling, feeling worried for her.
In team battles, a team generally wouldn't field two Support System Soul Masters at the same time, because an extra support system meant one less combatant and one more person to protect.
The better Lü Buliang performed in the team in the future, the more the team would rely on him. When it came to team battles, Ye Lingling's appearances would undoubtedly decrease.
As teammates for many years, how could Yu Tianheng bear to see Ye Lingling neglected by the team, and how could he bear to see the rare Nine Heart Begonia Spirit on the continent not have a chance to perform?
If Lü Buliang and Ye Lingling, these two Support System Soul Masters, appeared at the same time, wouldn't that mean replacing the control system's Dugu Yan?
After all, Lü Buliang said last night that he could be both a Support System Soul Master and a control system, and even had the potential of an agility-attack system.
At this moment, a rough voice interrupted Yu Tianheng's thoughts. "You're all here?"
The seven of Yu Tianheng looked towards the sound. The person who came was a middle-aged man in his fifties, not tall but giving off a powerful feeling.
His broad shoulders were like an iron wall, and his clothes couldn't conceal his steel-like, muscular physique. Although his expression was amiable, his sturdy build unconsciously exuded a strong sense of oppression.
If one looked closely, this middle-aged man bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Shi Mo and Shi Gao.
This person was none other than the Shi Brothers' father, named Shi Gao, a Level 78 Defense System Battle Spirit Saint with the Black Tortoise Turtle Spirit, and a Heaven Dou Royal Academy Heaven Dou-level practical guidance teacher.
"Father, why are you here?" Shi Mo and Shi Gao asked almost simultaneously.
Shi Gao walked in front of the seven, tapped the Shi Brothers on the head, and scolded, "How many times have I told you, avoid suspicion in the Academy, call me Teacher Shi."
Shi Mo and Shi Gao scratched their heads, looking aggrieved, not daring to speak further. They thought, with almost identical builds and appearances, and even the same Spirit and surname, what suspicion was there to avoid?
"Teacher Shi, why are you here?" Yu Tianheng asked.
Shi Gao stretched, "Qin Ming said he was busy this morning and couldn't train you, so he asked me to teach his class. Today, I will give you a practical guidance lesson."
Upon hearing this, Oslo and Yu Feng's hearts tightened, and a hint of weariness appeared on their faces.
If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was the most overbearing in attack among Beast Spirits, then the Black Tortoise Turtle's defense was the top existence among Beast Spirits.
Especially after reaching Level 70 spirit power and possessing the Martial Soul True Body, the Black Tortoise Turtle's defense could almost be called an attack, because force acts in opposition; if defense cannot be shaken, one will be bounced off or even injured by the defensive power.
The highest defense in the Academy belonged to the Level 85 Defense System Battle Spirit Douluo, Vice Committee Member Bai Baoshan, followed by this Level 78 Defense System Battle Spirit Saint Shi Gao.
When sparring with Shi Gao, even if he just stood there quietly and others attacked him, the ones who would ultimately get hurt would be the attackers.
Even the Shi Brothers' faces suddenly turned ugly when they heard their father would be today's practical guidance teacher, clinging to each other in fear as if they had seen a ghost.
Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan didn't feel anything, because the formidable nature of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit was enough to withstand Shi Gao's defensive rebound, and Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent used poisonous mist attacks, which wouldn't have any physical contact with the opponent's body, so naturally, she didn't have to fear the rebound damage from the terrifying defensive power.
Shi Gao completely disregarded the feelings of the seven, stretched again, and walked directly towards the Soul Duel Stage in the center of the training ground. "Hurry up and do some warm-up exercises. Class will start in five minutes. I won't use my Spirit or Spirit Abilities against you. If all seven of you can injure me, today's practical lesson will be considered a pass. If you fail, I will make you run a hundred laps around the training ground carrying turtle shells heavier than usual."
"Compared to before, today's punishment will be hard on your bodies. If you don't want to suffer, put all your effort into attacking me. Strive for a perfect score in my class."
With that, Shi Gao sat on the Soul Duel Stage and fell asleep in less than a second, emitting continuous snores.
------
The successive deans of Heaven Dou Royal Academy were always the reigning emperor, but due to the emperor's busy state affairs, all matters, big and small, were basically handled by Prince Xue Xing and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
The two had clear divisions of labor: Prince Xue Xing managed the entire Royal Academy, while Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was responsible for supervising the work of the Three Education Committee Members or other high-ranking personnel.
In the center of the Academy's main campus, there was a church-like building called the Education Committee.
At this moment, inside the Education Committee office.
The Three Education Committee Members and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe were holding a meeting, discussing the situation of the new students recruited by the Academy in recent days.
According to the information submitted by the teachers responsible for registering new students, this year Heaven Dou Royal Academy had more than a dozen talented noble students, and the rest were young masters sent in by nobles to idle away their time.
"Alas, perhaps the Academy's rules for recruiting students need to be changed."
After reviewing all the new student information, the First Committee Member Zhi Lin sighed in frustration. "At this rate, Heaven Dou Royal Academy will sooner or later become an entertainment venue for those nobles. How can it still be considered the highest-level Soul Master Academy?"
"Look at Star Luo Royal Academy, and then look at Spirit Hall Academy. Any Spirit Master with ability and talent, regardless of their background, can receive corresponding cultivation resources. Our Academy's cultivation resources are indeed the richest, but they are used to raise a group of incompetent people. It's simply a waste of natural resources!"
After speaking, the First Committee Member Zhi Lin looked at Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who was beside him, and said, still without restraining his temper, "Your Highness, please forgive my bluntness. I am only worried about the future of Heaven Dou Royal Academy and anxious that the Heaven Dou Empire has not produced a Titled Douluo for too long."
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe smiled faintly. "Committee Member Zhi Lin, just speak your mind, no need to care too much about my feelings. You are very right; there are indeed some flaws in the Academy's rules for recruiting students. I have also tried my best to negotiate with Imperial Father. Imperial Father is considering this matter; I hope there will be some good news."
Chief Committee Member Meng Shenji placed the new student information on the table, picked up another data card, and after carefully reading it for a few seconds, he spoke, "In addition to the thirteen noble children with innate spirit power above Level 6, the Academy also recruited a commoner with innate spirit power of Level 7 this year."
Upon hearing this, Second Committee Member Bai Baoshan was slightly surprised. "A commoner? What's going on? Doesn't the Academy stipulate that only nobles can be admitted? Which teacher took it upon themselves to admit a commoner?"
Meng Shenji chuckled, "Second Committee Member, don't get excited yet. The teacher who unilaterally recruited this commoner student is Qin Ming."
"Qin Ming?" Not only Bai Baoshan, but Zhi Lin also questioned. In the eyes of the Three Education Committee Members, Qin Ming was a genius who possessed both strength and wisdom. That he would break the rules and unilaterally recruit a commoner into the Academy surprised the Committee Members. Could this commoner student have some connection with Qin Ming?
Meng Shenji said, "Qin Ming's reason for recruiting this commoner student named Lü Buliang into the Academy is that he has the qualifications to become a special talent."
"Oh?" Zhi Lin showed delight. "Does that commoner student have something unique in his Spirit talent?"
Meng Shenji nodded. "That student's Spirit is Shadow. And it's a Shadow Spirit without any elemental attributes."
"A shadow without elemental attributes?" Zhi Lin pondered for a moment. "Normally, for Spirit Masters who can awaken a Shadow Spirit, the shadow will be accompanied by some natural element. For example, a shadow of fire, a shadow of water, or a shadow of lightning. A shadow without any elements, that's a pure natural phenomenon. Can a phenomenon become a Spirit?"
"That's why Qin Ming recruited him exceptionally," Meng Shenji replied. "It is said that that student's Shadow Spirit can not only assist teammates but also control enemies. And his Spirit Ability can allow the entire team to move in a shadow state, while simultaneously providing a fifty percent increase to attack and speed attributes. Even more incredible is that people in the shadow state can freely shuttle within a hundred-meter shaded area. It can be described as killing without a trace and being unpredictable."
After listening to Meng Shenji's account, not only Zhi Lin and Bai Baoshan, but also Xue Qinghe, who was beside them, was slightly shocked. Xue Qinghe was not surprised by the Spirit Ability effects of the Shadow Spirit, but by the Shadow Spirit itself.
There is only a shadow if there is light. The essence of a shadow is the shaded area formed when light shines on an opaque object.
Light is the weakness of a shadow; without light, there is no shadow. At the same time, light is also what makes a shadow stronger.
Xue Qinghe thought to himself, although he was the Crown Prince and his Spirit was a swan, those were merely disguises.
What was his true identity? Qian Renxue, the daughter of the former Supreme Pontiff and the current Supreme Pontiff—this was his true identity, and the Seraphim Spirit, which represented holiness and light, was his true Spirit.
The Seraphim Spirit could use the sun's energy to release intense light and heat. Therefore, under the Seraphim's light, the Shadow Spirit would definitely be affected and become even stronger.
The Shadow Spirit and the Seraphim Spirit were like the existence of light and shadow, influencing each other and complementing each other. When Spirits have such a relationship, it proves that there is a high probability of them developing a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
When a Martial Soul Fusion Skill is produced, its power is not just a reflection of the two Spirit Masters' levels, but something transcendent.
However, even two identical Spirits might not necessarily possess a Martial Soul Fusion Skill; this requires mutual complementarity and perfect synergy between Spirits to achieve.
It is precisely because of this that Martial Soul Fusion Skills are so precious.
It's just a pity that the Seraphim belongs to a divine-grade Spirit, and its quality differs too much from the Shadow Spirit. Even if the Shadow Spirit is as unique as Meng Shenji described, it is ultimately a mortal item and cannot produce a fusion skill with a divine-grade Spirit.
Just as the Committee Members were discussing the Shadow Spirit, a knock suddenly came from outside the office door. "Three Committee Members, Qin Ming has brought Lü Buliang."